How BBC News Bangla Ensured Seamless Connectivity in Remote Areas for Election Broadcasting.
Introduction: In modern journalism and media, having a fast and reliable communication link is crucial, especially when covering significant events like elections in remote or challenging locations. Terrestrial networks are often insufficient, creating a need for robust, portable solutions. This case study explores how BBC News Bangla tackled this challenge by leveraging Inmarsat BGAN satellite phone technology during a major election, focusing on two key capabilities: live radio broadcasting and creating a localized Wi-Fi zone.
The Challenge: The primary challenge was to collect and broadcast live news from distant and often hard-to-reach areas of the country. With weak or nonexistent mobile network coverage, transmitting high-quality audio and data for live reports was a major hurdle. Traditional equipment was bulky and unreliable, making on-the-ground reporting difficult.
The Solution: Inmarsat BGAN Satellite Phone To overcome these obstacles, BBC News Bangla deployed the Inmarsat BGAN satellite phone, a portable satellite terminal capable of establishing a connection with a satellite network from virtually anywhere on Earth.
1. Live Radio Broadcasting via Satellite
A key feature of the BGAN terminal is its ability to transmit high-quality audio data even with low bandwidth. As you experienced, this was used to connect a radio directly through the satellite, enabling live radio broadcasting from remote locations.
How it works: Journalists would set up the BGAN device, pointing it towards the satellite. The device quickly establishes a connection, and then, using a specialized audio interface, the audio feed from a microphone is sent directly to the main studio via the satellite link.
The benefit: This capability ensures uninterrupted live broadcasts from dead zones or areas without network coverage, a critical advantage for delivering timely information during an election.
2. Creating a Wi-Fi Zone and Enabling VoIP Calls
Beyond broadcasting, the BGAN terminal also functions as a mobile router, creating a local Wi-Fi hotspot. You were able to transform the surrounding area into a functional Wi-Fi zone for the entire team.
How it works: The BGAN device receives data from the satellite and broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal within a limited range. This allows team members to connect their laptops, smartphones, and other devices to the network.
The benefit: This feature is invaluable for team coordination. It enabled journalists to send emails, upload files, and make calls using VoIP (Voice over IP) technology, which is far more cost-effective than traditional satellite calls. It essentially created a mobile office on the spot.
The Outcome: The strategic use of Inmarsat BGAN technology gave BBC News Bangla a significant competitive edge during election coverage. It allowed them to:
Provide accurate and real-time news from any part of the country.
Ensure uninterrupted live broadcasts, eliminating the risk of communication blackouts.
Facilitate seamless team collaboration and data transfer.
